The Scottish Government

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GENERAL STATISTICS

Personnel & Operations

Establishments & Strengths

147. The establishments and actual strengths of Scottish fire services are given in Appendix 2 of this report.

Wholetime Personnel (Operational)

148. The total establishment of wholetime operational personnel of Scottish fire services at 31 March 2005 was 4613, a slight decrease from 4625 in the previous year. The actual strength of Scottish fire services ( i.e. the number of personnel actually in post) was 4527, giving a shortfall between the establishment and the actual number employed of 86.

Graph 2:Wholetime Establishment and Actual Strength 2000-01 to 2004-05

149. During the year 157 firefighters joined the Fire Service while 137 left for various reasons. The number of personnel retiring increased slightly from 120 in 2003-04 to 132 this year, 27 of which were on medical grounds. Further details of the gains and losses of personnel in each service are given in Appendix 3.

Retained Personnel

150. The figures relating to the establishment and actual strength in the retained sector of services for the years 2000-01 to 2004-05 are shown in Graph 3.

Graph 3: Retained Establishment and Actual Strength 2001-01 to 2004-05

151. The actual number of retained personnel in post throughout Scotland in 2004-05 was 3034; this is a net increase of 512 on the previous year, largely as a result of the redesignation of volunteer firefighters as retained staff by Highland and Islands Fire Service. The establishment decreased by 94 to 3453; the increase in retained establishment in Highland and Islands which corresponds to this year's increase in actual strength was noted in the 2003-04 Annual Report.

Volunteer Personnel

152. Details of the volunteer establishment and actual strength for the years 2000-2001 to 2004-05 are shown in Graph 4.

Graph 4: Volunteer Establishment and Actual Strength 2000-01 to 2004-05

153. The total establishment of volunteer firefighters in 2004-05 was 629, a decrease of 79 from the 2003-04 total. The actual number of volunteers in post in Scotland has decreased by 512 to 572, again principally as a result of the redesignation of volunteers as retained personnel by Highland and Islands Fire Service.

Control Room Staff

154. In 2004-05 the number of Control Room staff in post was 222, a decrease of 3 from the previous year. 190 women and 32 men serve in Control Rooms.

Non-Uniformed Staff

155. The total number of non-uniformed staff in post in 2004-05 was 895, compared with 839 in 2003-04. This category covers a variety of essential support duties such as administrative posts, stores, mechanics, IT and radio technicians, cooks, cleaners, and driving staff. These employees make an enormous contribution to Scottish Fire Services and without their efforts the service delivery could not exist in its current format.

Operational Activity

156. Operational activity decreased this year with a 12.8% fall in all incidents attended by Scottish fire services. There was a fall of 15.1% for fires involving property, while the number of secondary fires decreased by 34.8%. Appendix 4 provides an exact breakdown of incidents attended, and the following chart indicates the division of service activity between categories across Scotland. The proportion of unwarranted calls, including malfunctioning alarm systems and malicious false alarms, remains high at 37%, an increase from 31% in 2003-04. This was due to an increase of 7.3% in the number of alarms due to apparatus fault; the number of malicious false alarms actually fell by 11.3%. Reduction of the number of unwarranted fire signals continues to be a high priority for all fire services.

Incidents Attended by all Services 2004-05

Primary Fires are reportable fires in caravans, vehicles, structures, agricultural and forestry property, or any fire involving casualties or where 5 or more appliances have attended.
Secondary Fires are reportable fires which were not in Primary fire locations, not chimney fires, did not involve casualties, and had less than 5 appliances in attendance.
Chimney Fires are reportable fires in occupied buildings where fire was confirmed within a chimney structure, casualties were not involved, and less than 5 appliances attended.

Fatal Incidents: Summary

157. The accompanying tables summarise fatalities from fires in Scotland during 2004-05. Both tables include 2003-04 figures for comparison. All deaths are greatly regretted.

Summary of Fatal Incidents in Private Homes

"Number of incidents" refers to the number of fires, not the number of fatalities. All percentages are rounded to 1 decimal place.

Summary of Fatalities

The number of domestic fires resulting in multiple fatalities was 3 in 2003-04 and 4 in 2004-05.
All percentages are rounded to 1 decimal place.
Figures for non-domestic fires in 2003-04 include 14 fatalities in the fire at Rosepark Care Home on 31 January 2004

Injuries: Summary

158. The accompanying tables summarise significant non-fatal injuries at incidents attended by Scottish Fire Services in 2004-05. A "significant injury" is defined as one requiring medical treatment other than first aid provided at the scene; it includes individuals who were advised to attend hospital or see a doctor, regardless of whether or not they subsequently did so.

A. Fire Injuries

B. Non-Fire Injuries

"Non-Fire Injuries" are those at incidents other than fires which were attended by Fire Service personnel - for example, road accidents.
All percentages are rounded to 1 decimal place.

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